Suspension loop damper for heavy webs

ABSTRACT

A suspension loop damper wherein a heavy material such as carpeting is draped between a series of rollers and a shaped shell is at the bottom of the loop with opening means therethrough and a damper in the opening to engage the loop so that it changes the damper moves and may be arranged to control the feeding rollers to change the length of the loop therebetween.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,870,215

Schiffer Mar. 11, 1975 SUSPENSION LOOP DAMPER FOR HEAVY 3,704,820 12/1972 Frederick et a1. 226/44 WEBS 3,743,154 7/1973 Brcwitz 226/113 Inventor: Gunther Schiffer, Dusseldorf,

Germany Fa. Kleinewefers Industrie-Companie GmbI-I, Krefeld, Germany Filed: Mar. 29, 1973 Appl. No.: 346,060

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 7, 1972 Germany 2216666 US. Cl 226/42, 226/44, 226/111, 226/119 Int. Cl. B65h 23/22 Field of Search ..226/118,1l9,113,l1l, 226/42, 44

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Cohn et a1. 226/42 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 828,031 5/1938 France 226/111 Primary E.raminer-Allen N. Knowles Attorney, Agent, or FirmHill, Gross. Simpson, Van Santen. Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A suspension loop damper wherein a heavy material such as carpeting is draped between a series of rollers and a shaped shell is at the bottom of the loop with opening means therethrough and a damper in the opening to engage the loop so that it changes the damper moves and may be arranged to control the feeding rollers to change the length of the loop therebetween.

16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PM'ENTEUHARI 1 m5 187021 5 SHEEI 1 [IF Fig. 1

FRJENTEU 1 W5 SHEET 2 [IF 4 PATENTEU 1 I975 sninuufd SUSPENSION LOOP DAMPER FOR HEAVY WEBS BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION The invention relates to a suspension loop damper particularly for heavy material webs such as carpets or the like. Such carpets have a nap on one side and are arranged in a mechanism with a depending loop between first and second parallel carrier rollers. Suspension loop dampers may be used in other industries and environments, but will primarily be described in connection with the handling of web material such as carpeting. Such dampers are also utilized, however, for carrying continually moving webs of paper in the printing industry.

With suspension loop dampers as used on heavy webs of material such as carpet, a problem occurs that with a substantial length of loop depending beneath horizontal first and second carrier rollers, the radius of the loop curvature at the lower end thereof is so small that the nap threads can contact each other or other portions of the machine and can be deformed by improper length of loops so that the quality of the product is reduced. The maintenance of the length of the loop is important also because of the weight of the goods. In optimum operation a loop of a given length should be maintained dependent upon the type of material and the operation of the machine. Preferably, the loop length should take into consideration that the web of the material is usually wet and has 4 to 5 times its dry weight in moisture suspending in the loop so that the length of the loops must be limited. Also, it is essential that these relatively heavy loops cannot be permitted to swing within the enclosure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a suspension loop damper in which disadvantages of previous suspension loop damper controls are avoided and that the lower loop curvature is maintained uniform so that the nap threads do not contact and deform one another. It is also an object of the invention to provide a damper mechanism which has a short structural length so that the material web suspended between consecutive rollers can obtain a substantial length.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the loop damper has a shaped guide such as formed of sheet metal which is generally semicircular in cross-section, but particularly shaped in accordance with the formation of the loop of heavy material between carrying rollers. The spacing of the consecutively disposed horizontal carrier rollers corresponds to the spacing of the sheet metal guides so that the ratio of the diameter of the rollers to their spacing from one another is in the range ofl 20.3 to l 1. In other words, the opening or the spacing between the upper vertical portions of the sheet metal guide which is the same as 4 the spacing between the rollers may amount to approximately /a l or to the equal of the diameter of the consecutively positioned carrier rollers. Preferably, the spacing between the top of the guide and the rollers is in the range of5 l to 1 ratio relative to the diameter of the rollers.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of the guide which leads downwardly from a vertical section to follow the curvature of the depending loop of web, to a larger diameter curvature which leads into a lesser diameter of curvature and upwardly to a vertical lead-out portion. The vertical wall portions are substantially parallel. The guides are provided with openings either extending parallel to the travel of the web or transversely across the web with dampers or feelers in the openings with the feelers lightly engaging or scanning the underside of the web of material which in the case of carpeting is the side opposite the side with the nap. With napless web, the feeler may engage either the upper or the lower side or both sides of the web.

In accordance with the invention, the lower portion of the suspended loop of web material is substantially supported by the guide to control the curvature thereof. The lower part of the loop lies on the upwardly facing concave guide so that it receives a predetermined shape to thereby prevent the nap threads which stand substantially vertically on the spread-out carpet from contacting one another in the curvature at the lower loop end. The damper is arranged so that it controls the travel of the rollers to prevent a peeling off of the web of material in the supporting and guiding mechanism at the lower end of the loop. The arrangement is such that it prevents the curvature of the lower end of the loop from becoming so small that the nap threads engage one another and the damper or feelers undertake a control of the speed of carrier rollers. The guide and the feelers or dampers are uniquely shaped in accordance with the nonsymmetrical curvature of the lower loop of the web material with stiff material such as carpeting. The damper is uniquely positioned at the center of the bisector of the angle between horizontal and vertical lines going through the center point of the depending loop and spaced upwardly a distance the same as thedistance from the vertical to the outgoing part of the loop. The guide is constructed to present recesses extending in the direction of the travel of the web for the dampers, or with a transverse recess that extends across the travel of the web. The damper has a curvature which is different than the curvature of the guide and the curvature of the web, and a plurality of dampers may be uniquely supported on a common pivotal mount.

Other objects, advantages and features, as well as equivalent structures which are intended to be covered herein will become more apparent with the teaching of the principles of the invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of a suspension loop damper constructed and operating in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the damper;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the damper;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic view of the support mechanism of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic view of a portion of the structure.

DESCRIPTION The overall mechanism includes a housing or container l for processing the web material. In the lower section 1a, feed or supply lines such as for water vapor are provided, and the container is closed by means of a cover 2.

The web material W enters through the inlet channel 3 into the housing 1 and leaves in the same direction as shown by the arrow P through an outlet 5. At substantially the elevation of the inlet channel 3 and the outlet 5, the housing 1 has carrier rollers 6 which are horizontal and arranged consecutively with a spacing X between their adjacent surfaces. They are substantially uniformly spaced with each having a depending loop of web material therebetween. The horizontal spacing between the rollers is in the range of 30 to 100 percent of the diameter of the carrier rollers. The carrier rollers are independently driven by speed controlled motors so that the relative speed between the rollers can be controlled to control the length of the dependent loop of web therebetween.

The web material W is illustrated as being carpeting which has a nap on its upper surface 0. The web forms a depending loop 7 having vertical straight sections 8 and 9 as well as a lower curvature 10. The vertical straight sections 8 and 9 extend downwardly spaced apart a distance X. g

In the lower part of the housing 1 arranged parallel to the rollers 6 in the space beneath and between the rollers are supporting guides 12. These may be made of various materials, but are preferably shaped sheet metal and are approximately semicircular in shape at the lower portion, but are formed, as shown particularly in FIG. 3 with the curvature that the somewhat stiff webbing takes as it drapes and makes the curvature when changing from the vertically down to the vertically up traveling run. The upper sections of the guide 14 and 15 extend approximately vertically parallel and have upper turned out edges 14a and 15a, FIG. 1. The lower curved inlet part 16 of the guide, FIG. 3, is shaped with a curvature of a greater radius than the outgoing curved portion 17 which has a curvature of a smaller radius. These radii will be shaped in accordance with the natural shape of the somewhat stiff web. The web direction of travel is shown by the arrowed line 18 in FIG. 3.

In the preferred form of the invention, in the outlet curvature part 17, are a plurality of slots 19 which extend in the direction of web travel. In the slots are feelers or dampers 20 which are mounted on a common transverse bar 21. The bar 21 is located in a transverse slot which is located on the bisector 22, FIG. 3, of the angle between the horizontal line 23 and the vertical line 24. The vertical line 24 is at the beginning of the curvature l7, and the horizontal line 26 is at the termination of the curvature 17. In other words, the transverse bar 21, which is at the center of the dampers 20, lies halfway or at the center of the shorter arc of curvature 17.

The transverse bar 21 is supported on generally vertically extending rods 27 which are pivotally mounted at 28, FIG. 3. An extension 27a of the rod 27 carries a weight 29 and is swingable in the direction of the arrowed line 30. The weights 29 are vertically adjustable to control the response or, in other words, the pressure of the dampers against the web, as they engage the web through the openings 19. The dampers have a curvature with an are that is greater than the curvature of the outlet portion 17 of the guide. The general direction of movement is shown by the arrowed line 31, although actual movement will be along the path of pivotalmovement of the rods 27 as more accurately indicated by the arrowed lines 30.

In operation if the roller 6a, FIG. 1, travels at a more rapid speed of rotation than the roller 6b, the web material presses downwardly into the curvature of the guide. Thus, the end 200 of the damper is acted on, and the damper assumes the position shown in FIG. 3 at 20' causing the rod end 27a carrying the weight 29 to swing into the position 27a.

If the roller 6b travels more rapidly than the roller 6a so that the web loop will draw away from the dampers, particularly the end 20b of the dampers, the parts 20 and 27a assume positions 20" and 27a".

From the difference between the positions 27a and 27a", it may be determined quantitatively and qualitatively whether and to what extent a peeling off or removal of the web material from the outlet curvature part 17 takes place, and in accordance therewith a more rapid or slower travel of the roller 6a relative to the roller 6b is necessary. Corresponding control impulses are provided to the drive motors of the rollers 60 and 6b. This is shown somewhat schematically in FIG. 6 with a drive motor 37a having a drive shaft 6'a to drive the motor 6a, and a motor 38 having a drive shaft 6b to drive the roller 6b. Electrical control means may be provided such as a sliding contact 40 connected to a lead-in line 39 against a control 42. Thus, as the arm swings as indicated by the arrowed line 41, the contact 40 moves along to control one or both of the motors 37a and 38 to change the relative speed be tween the rollers 6a and 6b.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the outlet curvature 17 of the guide 12 has a transverse slot 32 extending across the direction of travel of the web. In the transverse slot 32 a lateral extending damper or shoe 33 is positioned. This is supported on a double set of rods 34of a crank assembly 35 having movement such as that illustrated in FIG. 5. The double rods 34 carry out essentially movement in a straight line 36 of a coupling curve 37. As the web feeds in or peels off the curvature, the damper assumes the position 33. When the web W moves out of the curvature, the damper assumes the position 33". The movement along the straight line path 36 operates a control mechanism to operate the motors for the rollers 6a and 6b.

The rollers 6 are preferably provided with circumferential ribs disposed at a space from one another which prevent lateral travel of the web.

Instead of the smooth walled concave surface of the guide, these may be arranged in supporting driven or nondriven rolls or rollers for controlling the position and curvature of the loop of web material.

It is also contemplated that the guide may be coated on its inner surface with a material such as Teflon which decreases the slide and friction of the web. Other variations will be apparent to those versed in the art from the foregoing disclosure.

I claim as my invention:

1. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like comprising in combination:

material such as carpet or the like comprising in combination:

material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 1:

including a shaped outer supporting guide shell embracing the lower turn of the web loop having opening means therethrough with said damper member being position in said opening means.

3. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 2:

wherein said shell has a first portion with a larger diameter of curvature and a second portion with a lesser diameter of curvature.

4. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 2:

wherein said guide shell has a leading vertical portion and a trailing vertical portion parallel to each other. 5. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 5:

wherein an opening is provided in the shell and at least one damper is located in said opening for movably engaging the lower loop of web as it bends in the shell.

7. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6:

in which said damper is positioned in the outlet part of the shell substantially centered on the line bisecting the angle between a vertical line at the center of the base of the loop and a horizontal line spaced above the loop a distance equal to the distance between the vertical line and the outrunning vertical portion of the loop.

8. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6:

wherein said opening extends horizontally along said shell transversely of the direction of movement of the web.

9. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6:

wherein a plurality of dampers are provided mounted on a common movable support.

10. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6:

wherein said dampers have a concave curvature with an arc ofa greater radius than the curvature of said guide.

11. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6:

including a support for the damper pivotally mounting the damper for movement about an axis extending transversely of the direction of movement of the web.

12. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6:

including means for controlling the relative speed of said rolls with said means connected to said damper and operable as a function of the damper position.

13. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 5:

wherein said guide shall has vertical portions spaced apart equal to the distance between said rolls with said distance having a ratio to the diameter of the rolls in the range of 0.3 l to l l.

14. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 5:

wherein the space from the upper portion of said guide to the rolls has a ratio to the diameter of the rolls in the range of l 5 to l l0.

15. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6:

wherein said dampers are coated with a friction reducing material on the surface in engagement with the web.

16. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6:

wherein at least one of said rolls has a variable speed control which is operatively connected to the damper and varies the speed of the roll as a function of the position of the damper. 

1. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like comprising in combination: first and second rotatable carrier rollers arranged so that the web passes over the top of said rollers and depends in a free hanging loop therebetween; a damper means positioned for engaging the outer surface of the loop laterally of the lowermost point of the loop and movable therewith; and means movably supporting the damper so that it moves with change in length of the loop between the rollers.
 1. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like comprising in combination: first and second rotatable carrier rollers arranged so that the web passes over the top of said rollers and depends in a free hanging loop therebetween; a damper means positioned for engaging the outer surface of the loop laterally of the lowermost point of the loop and movable therewith; and means movably supporting the damper so that it moves with change in length of the loop between the rollers.
 2. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 1: including a shaped outer supporting guide shell embracing the lower turn of the web loop having opening means therethrough with said damper member being position in said opening means.
 3. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 2: wherein said shell has a first portion with a larger diameter of curvature and a second portion with a lesser diameter of curvature.
 4. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 2: wherein said guide shell has a leading vertical portion and a trailing vertical portion parallel to each other.
 5. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like comprising in combination: first and second rotatable carrier rollers arranged so that the web passes over the top of each and depends in a free hanging loop therebetween; a shaped outer supporting guide shell embracing the outer surface at the lower turn of the web loop and shaped with the curvature approximating the turning curvAture of the web, and means movably supporting said guide shell.
 6. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 5: wherein an opening is provided in the shell and at least one damper is located in said opening for movably engaging the lower loop of web as it bends in the shell.
 7. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6: in which said damper is positioned in the outlet part of the shell substantially centered on the line bisecting the angle between a vertical line at the center of the base of the loop and a horizontal line spaced above the loop a distance equal to the distance between the vertical line and the outrunning vertical portion of the loop.
 8. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6: wherein said opening extends horizontally along said shell transversely of the direction of movement of the web.
 9. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6: wherein a plurality of dampers are provided mounted on a common movable support.
 10. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6: wherein said dampers have a concave curvature with an arc of a greater radius than the curvature of said guide.
 11. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6: including a support for the damper pivotally mounting the damper for movement about an axis extending transversely of the direction of movement of the web.
 12. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6: including means for controlling the relative speed of said rolls with said means connected to said damper and operable as a function of the damper position.
 13. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 5: wherein said guide shall has vertical portions spaced apart equal to the distance between said rolls with said distance having a ratio to the diameter of the rolls in the range of 0.3 : 1 to 1 :
 1. 14. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 5: wherein the space from the upper portion of said guide to the rolls has a ratio to the diameter of the rolls in the range of 1 : 5 to 1 :
 10. 15. A suspension loop damper for a traveling web of material such as carpet or the like constructed in accordance with claim 6: wherein said dampers are coated with a friction reducing material on the surface in engagement with the web. 